The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-29
THE SOCIAL WORLD.
Sunday Evening Teas and other
Wrinkles in Washington.

There have always been one or two draw
ing-rooms in society here open for visitors
on Sunday evenings" says Ben Perley
Poore, writing from Washington to the
Albany Journal, ''but this year Sunday
''teas" have become quite fashionable, ex-
citing the horrors of the old dowagers who
regard them as inventions of the evil one.
1t is said, but hardly credit it, that at two
houses whist is now openly played at Sun
day teas, and that at several others there
are Sunday suppers, with game. terrapin
salads, and of course champagne.
'our demoiselles are giving lunch-parties,
each of which has distinct color-yellow,
pink, blue or green. At one given by Miss
McCue, at which Mrs. Lamont. Miss Hazel
hurst Of Brooklyn, Miss Strong and other
ladies were guests, the table was lighted by
tapers of yellow wax in yellow shades, there
was profusion Of yellow tulips, the dinner
service was decked with bows of yellow rib
bon, and the guests were more or less yellow.
A Roman lunch was proposed by classical
damsel, but was found to be rather incon-
venient, especially the custom of serving
emetcs to the guests at the close of the third
course, that in due time nature might supply
q receptacle for more good cheer. Sucn
practice would not find much favor here
Washington parlors have always been we'll
decorated with what the French call bric-a-
brac. Naval officers and diplomats have
brought an immense lot of Japanese and
Chinese stuff into the District and there Is a
good deal OF old ware which came here from
England when people ''lived under the king"
Recently two itinerant dealers have invaded
us with their adroitly catalogued collections,
and domestic art Is one Of the hobbies of the
hour. Young women talk tiuently about ce-
ramlc trade mark, marguerite furniture and
Minton tiles, while the solid mahogany side
boards, chairs and tables of defunct ances-
tors are secured up and vanished to grace
modern drawing-rooms. A clever dealer in
pictures furnishes ancestral portraits at $50
each, and there are swords enough purport-
ing to have been carried by family heroes to
have armed one OF those gallant companies
in the Quartermaster's division which Gen
Meigs led to victory when Washington was
attacked by the Confederates. One sees
everywhere Eastlake tables, eandlesticks
never graced by a candle, beer jugs innocent
Of the flavor Of malt and hops and Japanese
screenes bearing inscriptions which are said
TO be very indecent, although few can trans
lae them. AT a few houses there are fine
collections Of Indian weapons and relics, es-
peclally at Calumet place, the residence Of
Mrs. John A. Logan, whose sOn-in-law, Mai,
-, obtained them while he was sta
toned as army paymaster in New Mexico"
The new w0man's club in New York Is
called the Meridian. II is limited to 40
members, and 1t works alphabetically, Sc
lecting its subjects and appointing its chair
man for the day according 10 the initial let
ter OF subject and name. Papers and discus
sion are preceded by luncheon, as In the
SorOsis, to which a member may invite
guests. The founder Of the Meridian" was
Mrs ROssiter johnson, wife Of the poet. 1t
numbers among its active members such
clever women as Mrs. Kate UpsOn Clarke.
editor of Good Cheer. Its subjects for dis
cussion are generally chosen from live cur
rent topics. Another movement Is on foot to
start club with club house, reading room
and such accommodations as those accorded
to gentlemen. The projectors have written
to London asking for information in regard
to the Victoria and SOmerville club. The
difficulty about a woman's club house in
New York is the cost. Male clubs are grow
ing rich on renting out apartments and sell
ing wines to their members, field in which
women cannot compete
Miss Alice and Phebe Cary first brought
Sunday evening receptions into prominence
for many years. Bayard Taylor also chose
Sunday evening upon which to receive his
friends, although in quiet way. A new and
very popular social Sunday evening centre
has been established this season by the resi-
dence in New York of Col. Robert IngersolI
and family. His wife Is bright woman and
model hostess, and he Is Surrounded by
daughters and nieces, handsome, unaffeeted
happy and Intelligent girls, who easily bring
the majority Oh lhe weak and susceptible sex
70 tneir leet. One daughter, Eva. Is muse
white. ""'' "e'''